Wall fixture attaching device



mm, 2%, W49

A. A. LEIN 2,491,742.

WALL FIXTURE ATTACHING DEVICE Filed, Feb. 1 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR fl w/J7 ,4. 4501/ BY ATTORNEY Dec, 20, 1949 A. A. Lem 2,491,742

WAI L FIXTURE ATTACHING DEVICE Filed Feb. 1, 1947 s Sheets-Sheet 2 5 INVENTOR AUfl r A LE/A/ Y ATTORNEY 23 Dec. Zfl, 1949 A. A. LEIN WALL FIXTURE ATTACHING DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 1, 1947 INVENTOR. 41/4 05/ ,4. LE/lY HTTOFNEY Patented Dec. 20, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WALL FIXTURE ATTACHING DEVICE August A. Lein, Harrington Park, N. J. Application February 1, 1947, Serial No. 725 7721 switch boxes, electrical outlets and like fixtures to wall; boardofthis, type is rendered difficult for the reason that nails and: screws cannot be securely attached to the wall board. Where the wa l a d sn t i ectl backed up y w o athr; the ike memb t s c ar to insert a blac of. woo hrousht e h wall, board which is to receive the fixture, and

secure the l wcodlblock to the wall board or to h uddi s ota s ita le m nn to o ee ramin rpun hefi tu e o e h a be Q whic h ails. Scr ws nt de to support hefix urema i be fi mly u iri tures in this manner is generally unsatisfactory ue. a he: ime nsumed. n installation, n the difliculty oi; eltecting firmsecurement to the wood block in position t o the rear of the wall board; Due to the inherent difiiculties thus encountered in. attaching thefixtiue to the wall board, it is often found that the fixture is not accurately centered, Wiringdifficulties are encountered, and. theffixture itself becomes loose andwabbly durihguse.

An objec't this. invention is to provide an improved attaching, device whereby electrical switchboxesgelectrical outlets, medicine cabinets and, other box-like structures and fixtures may befirmly andsecurely attached tolwall, built up of compositionwallboard, without the necessity of. providing backing struts for the wall boardfin order to firmly support and secure the fixture n v i a Other objects rand advantages of this invention will become apparent asthe disclosure proceeds.

In accordancewith this invention, an improved attaching device, isprovided whichis simple in design and construction, economical to manufacturaand which nrovides means wherebyelectrical fixtures and box-likestructures may be directlyattached to wall board in a firm, and secure manner with a minimum of effort and inconvenience. The attaching device be cons tructed of simple parts comprising essentially t e attaching, member designed to grip or d to the edge or side wall, of the fixture illed a deformable; clamp member dextend along the side'wall o'f the fixto a l signed to ture, and a screw connectingthe attaching mem; ber and the clamp member in a manner sojt whenthe screw head islmanipulated, the ole member will be deformed and drawn tigh against the rear face of, the wallbbalrd sq astd as ,a hook member designed toengage the edge ofjthe side wall of the fixture, or the Qattaching' member may comprise an integral part of the clamp member, or the attaching member may; comprise a projecting bracket, either integrally formed as a part ofthe fixture side wall or'securedf to the side wall by screws or thelike'.

The clamp member may be formed from light gauge sheet metal, which before application a" the fixture presents a relatively straight body section having 'a leg section extending laterallyfrom each end thereof. One of the leg sections is designed to be located adjacentthe rear facj of the wall board and is provided with a hole. therein through which the threaded shank of the. screw may freely extend. The leg section at the other end of the body sectionis designedto receive the lower end of the screw, shank which extends through the hole therein. The holein.

the last named-leg sectionmay be of such diam-j eter as to have threaded engagement with the. threaded screw shank, or if desired, a screw nut} may be securely attached to this leg section with which the screw shank is designed to have threaded engagement. The body section ofthe, clamp member is sufiiciently deformableto per-r, mit bending. transversely thereof. so. that when the screw is turned, one portion of the, body sec? tion will be manipulated toswing outwardly. to,

board, and the other portionof theclamp mem' ber will provide a bracing, strut which, extends from the Wall board abutment portion at an in clined angle to the leg section which is engaged by the screw shank and drawn toward the head: thereof when the screw head turned.

The strut portion and also the abutment portion of the clamp member may be stiffened and reinforced by a rib which extends longitudinally thereof t me approximate bend line in the body section which defines the adjacent ends of the strut portion and the abutment portion. Byth'e application of such reinforcing ribs tothe strut portion and the wall board abutting portion or the clamp body, transverse bending of the clamp member at the proper location between thefadf jacent ends of the rib formationsfis assured;

This improved wall fixture attaching provides means whereby box-like structuresmay be quickly and firmly attached to wall paneling constructed from composition board. In applying a box-like fixture to the wall board, an appropriate dimensioned hole is cut in the wall board to accommodate the fixture, with the attaching members associated with such fixtures seating against the room-exposed face of the wall board. This improved attaching device is then positioned between the side wall of the fixture and the adjacent edge of the wall board. The I.

screw head of the attaching device seats against the attaching member and is readily accessible from the interior of the room. The screw head is manipulated as by means of a screw driver, which manipulation deforms the clamp member to generally angular shape, the strut portion thereof causing the wall abutting portion thereof to swing outwardly so as to snugly and tightly overlie the rear face of the wall panel. The strut or bracing portion of clamp member is thus swung head cannot further be readily manipulated.

When these improved attaching devices have been applied to the fixture adjacent op osite sides thereof. or adjacent all four sides thereof as may be d sired, it will be found that the fixture is firmly and rigidly held in pos tion by the abutting flanges of the fixture which overlie the front face of the wall board and the ab tting port ons of the clamp members which overlie the rear fa ce of the wall board, and with the wall board firmly clamped th r -between without damage or rupture of the wall board.

A though the characteristic features of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the c aims appended hereto, the invention itself and the manner in wh ch it may be carried out. may better be un erstood by ref rring to the following descri tion taken in connection with the accom pan ng drawings forming a part thereof, in which Fig. 1 is a s de elevational View of an electrical switch box mounted in a wall panel and held in place by the improved attaching devices,

Fig. 2 is a front elevat onal view of the switch box, this view showing the improved attaching devices assoc ated therewith and attaching the box assembly to the surrounding wall panel.

Fig. 3 is an elevational view of one end of the switch box, this view further illustrating the manner in which the improved attachin devices secure the switch box assembly in position to the wall panel.

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view of the switch box further illustrating the manner in which the improved attaching devices secure the switch box to the wall panel, this view being taken along line 4-4 of Fig. 1, the attaching devices being of the form illustrated in Figs. 12 and 13.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross sectional view of the switch box assembly in position on the wall panel, this view illustrating one of the attaching devices prior to deformation of the clamp member thereof, this view also illustrating one of the attaching devices having the clamp member thereof in process of deformation to grip the rear face of the 4 wall panel, the attaching devices bein of the form illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the metal strip from which the clamp member may be formed.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of one form of the improved attaching device as it appears when fully assembled prior to attachment to the fixture.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a clamp member of somewhat modified form.

Fig. 9 is an elevational view of a clamp member of further modified form.

Fig. 10 is a longitudinal cross sectional View of the modified clamp member shown in Fig. 9 as the same appears when viewed along line lib-l0 of Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of a clamp member similar to that shown in Figs. 9 and 10, modified by the provision of a threaded nut attached to the lower leg section thereof with which the threaded shank of the screw is designed to engage.

Fig. 12 is an elevational view of a clamp member having a fixture attaching portion formed integral therewith.

Fig. 13 is a longitudinal cross-section view of the modified clamp member shown in Fig. 12 as the same appears when viewed along line 13-13 of Fig. 12.

Fig. 14 is a perspective View of another modified form of the improved attaching device having an angular bracket formed separately from the clamp member.

Fig. 15 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a section of the switch box assembly in position on the wall panel, this View also showing the attaching device illustrated in Fig. 14 in cross section prior to deformation of the clamp member.

Fig. 16 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a section of the switch box assembly in position on the wall panel, this view showing the attaching device illustrated in Fig. 14 after deformation thereof; and

Fig. 17 is a side elevational View of the attaching device illustrated in Fig. 14 in position on a side wall of the switch box.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views and drawings of the specification.

This improved attaching device as illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 5, and '7 is formed from a clamp member if), a hook member II, and a screw l2. The clamp member iii and the hook member II are preferably formed of light gauge corrosion resistant sheet metal capable of deformation as set forth hereinafter. Screw l2 may be a standard metal screw of sufiicient length to pass through the wing section 34 of the hook member and the leg sections Hi and 15 of the clamp member prior to deformation thereof.

The clamp member it may be formed of a strip of sheet metal as shown in Fig. 6, presenting a body section it and leg forming sections 14 and It at each end thereof. The body section l3 may be stamped with an outwardly extending rib l6, which extends from the leg forming section l5 along the body section [3 for a distance of approximately three-fifths of the length of the body section 13, in order to strengthen the strut portion 20 thereof against bending. Immediately below the rib 56, means are provided to assure bending of the body section along a transverse line ll, which means is illustrated in Fig. 17 as a hip portion l8 stamped into the metal as shown in Fig. 7, or as short slits l9 as illustrated in Fig.

8, which serve to weaken the metal along the line I] so that the metal is easily bendable along that line. The body section it is thus divided into a strut portion 28 and a panel abutment portion 2|. The panel abutment portion 2i may also be stamped with a longitudinally extending rib 22 as illustrated in Figs. 9, and 11.

Leg section It is pierced with a hole 23, of a diameter great enough so that the neck portion of the screw 12 may pass easily therethrough but not so large that the head ii! of the screw 12 may pass therethrough. The leg section M may also be provided with a foot flange 25 extending laterally from the sides thereof. The leg section It is bent inwardly along the bend line 25 at an angle of about 90 with respect to the body section 13.

Leg section l5 may be made of double ply metal having a hole 23 therein of a diameter such that the leg section l5 will be engaged by the threads of the threaded shank 24 of the screw 52. Leg section is bent inwardly along bend line 29 at an angle of about 90 to the body section it, presenting a leg section of double thickness of metal.

As an alternative construction, the leg section Q5 of the clamp member ll! as shown in Fig. H, may have a nut 2! welded over the hole 23 of leg section IS, the nut 21 being provided with an in terior thread so that the threaded shank 24 of the screw l2 may be engaged thereby.

The hook number I! may be formed of relatively li ht gauge sheet metal to present a retaining section 33, a bearing section 32, a flange section 3! and a wing section at. The retaining section 33 and the flange section 35 are bent at an angle of 90 to the bearing section thus forming a slot 3? therebetween, which is de signed to fit snugly over the edge of a switch box or other box like structure which is to be affixed to the wall panel. The wing section 35 is bent laterally from the retaining section 33 at an angle of about 90. A hole 3% is bored in the wing section 34 of such a diameter that the neck portion of the screw l2 may pass easily therethrough. but the head id of the screw l2 will not pass therethrough.

The hook number i! and the clamp member it may also be formed from a single strip of metal, in which the retaining section 33 of the hook member ll would be formed as a continuation of the leg section. it of the clamp member NJ, the wing section of the hook members being then eliminated.

The screw I2 is provided with a threaded shank portion 24 which preferably presents sharp and deep threads so that posi ive and secure engagement may be had with the hole 2% of the leg section IE, or with the interior threading of the nut 27.

Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 5 inclusive illustrate the manher of amxing a switch box 6-5 to a composition board wall Mi. As more particularly illustrated in 2, a hole il is cut into the wall panel 46 of a size and shape so that the switch box 45 may fit easily therein. As the sides of the hole 4'5, slots 38 are out in the wall panel through which the clamp member id and its associated hook member ii and screw i2 may be inserted. The switch box as is provided at top and bottom with outwardly extending flanges as, which may be formed as an integral part of the switch box 55, or which may be attached thereto by means of screws 5b, as illustrated in Fig. 3. The flanges 49 are designed to abut against t e ront f ce of the wall panel 46.

The improved attaching device is assembled ready for use as shown in Fig. 7 by passing the screw I 2 through the hole .39 in the wing section 3 50f the hook member ll, through the hole 23 in the leg section 14 of the clamp member ID, and through the hole 28 in the leg section Id of the clamp member H), with the threaded shank portion 24 of the screw 12 engaging the circumference of the hole 28 in the leg section IE, or, in the excmplification illustrated in Fig. 11, engaging the interior threading of the nut 21.

The attaching device is passed through the slot :38 in the wall board 45, and the hook member H is fitted over the edge M of the side wall 52 of the switch box 45. The screw I2 is now tightened, the foot flange 25 on the leg section I4 seating against the side wall 52 of the switch box 45 to inhibit rotation of the clamp member ID. As the screw 12 is tightened, the clamp memher to will bendalong bend line IT, as illustrated in Fig. 5. When the screw i2 is fully tightened, the wall abutting portion 21 of the body section is of the clamp member ID will fit closely and firmly against the back of the wall panel 46,ancl the box flanges 49 will be drawn firmly against the front face of the wall panel 46. The strut portion 2!] of the body section I3 acts as a brace to prevent further bending of thewall abutment portion 2!. The improved attaching device then forms a right triangle whose sides are made up of the screw l2, and the panel abutting portion 26, the strut portion 20 forming the hypotenuse thereof.

The switch box '45 will then be held firmly and securely in place by the interaction of the box flange 49 and the clamp member Ill. After thus firmly fixingthe switch box 65 in place, any further tightening of the screws l2 will tend to force thetip ends of the screws against the adjacent sides 52 of the switch box 45, to further rigidly secure the fixture in position. i It will be appreciated that the improved attaching device may be applied at the same location on the box 45 as the box flange 49, as illustrated in Fig. 2, since the box flange 49 does not interfere with the application or operation of the attaching device. The flanges and the clamp member may thus be directly opposed. Aplurality of these improved attaching devices may be used, as illustrated in Fig. 2, in which four attaching devices are shown in place. It will also be appreciated that this improved attaching device may be used in connection with any type of box-like structure which a builder or home-owner may desire to incorporate in a wall composed of composition board.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 4, l2 and 13, the hook member H is dispensed with, the clamp member ill having as a. part thereof an attaching section 55 adapted to be attached to the side 52 of the switch box 45. The attaching section 55 may be made as an extension of leg section 14, and is bent outwardly therefrom at an angle of about The attaching section ,55 may be provided with a slot .5! by means of which the attaching section 5.5 be adiustably secured to the side wall 52 of the switch box A5 as by means of a screw 53, the screw 58 being in threaded engagement with a hole 59 in the side wall 52 of the box fixture.

In installing a switch box 5 by means of an attaching device in the form illustrated in Figs. 4, 12 and 13, the attaching section 55 of the clamp member is secured to the side wall 52 of the switch box 45 in such a position that when the box flanges 49 abut against the front face of the wall board 46, the bend line 26 of the clamp member will be in the same plane as the rear face of the wall panel 46. The screw I2 is passed through the hole 23 and the threaded shank Z 3 thereof engaged with the edges of hole 28 or with the threads of nut 21. The switch box 45, with the attached clamp member it, is passed through the wall panel hole 41 until the box flanges 49 abut against the front face of the wall as. The screw [2 is now turned, thus deforming the clamp member in until the wall abutting portion 2! of the body section l3 fits snugly against the rear face of the wall panel 46, thus drawing the box flanges 49 firmly against the front face of the wall panel 46, thus clamping the box fixture 45 firmly in position.

If the wall panel 46 is of unusual thickness, so that it is inconvenient to manipulate the screw [2 when the head 40 thereof is seated against the leg section !4 of the clamp member, a collar member 50 may be telescoped on the screw l 2 before it is passed through the hole 23 and engaged with the hole 28 of the clamp member or thenut 21. Thus the head Ail of the screw 12 may be maintained in a position where it may be easily manipulated, the thrust of the screw head 40 being communicated to the leg section l i through the collar member 69.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 14, 15, 16 and 17 the box fianges 39 may be dispensed with, bracket members 65 taking their places. The bracket member 55 may be formed of sheet metal, and consists of a small panel abutting section 66 and a box-securing section El, the panel abutting section 66 extending at an angle of about 90 from the box-securing section 61. The panel abutting section 66 is provided with a hole 69 to receive the neck portion of the screw [2. The box-securing section 6! of the bracket member 65 may be provided with slots 10, by means of which the bracket member 65 may be adjustably secured to the side wall 52 of the box fixture 45, as by screws H engaging threaded openings 12 in the box side wall 52.

In installing a switch box 45 by attaching devices as illustrated in Figs. 14 to 1'7 inclusive, the bracket member is attached to the box side wall 52 as by screws l2 inserted through the slots H in the bracket member. The screw is passed through the hole 69 in the panel abutting section 66 of the bracket member and also through the hole 23 in the leg section it of the clamp member 10, with the threaded shank 26 of the screw 52 engaging the edge of the hole 28 in the leg section 15, or the threads of the nut 21. The box fixture 45 is then inserted into the panel hole 41 until the panel-abutting section 56 of the bracket member 65 is in contact with the front face of the panel 46. The screw I2 is then turned, deforming the clamp member H3 until the wall abutting portion 2! of the body section 53 fits snugly and tightly against the rear face of the wall 46, thus clamping the panel 45 firmly between the wall abutting portion 2! of the clamp member ID and the wall-abutting section 66 of the bracket member 65.

Improved attaching devices made in accordance with this invention are simple and sturdy in construction, and may be economically fabricated, at low cost. These attaching devices facilitate the installation of all types of box-like structures in walls built of composition board.

The use of backing frames behind the wall board to support the weight of the box may also be eliminated thereby effecting substantial economies in the cost of installation.

While certain novel features of the invention have been disclosed herein, and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions, and changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirt of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An attachment device for securing a wall fixture to a wall panel which includes, a deformable metal clamp member having a relatively straight body section deformable when in fixture attaching position, and a leg section extending in the same direction from each end of the body section, said deformable body section having a deformable panel abutment portion bendably hinged to a relatively rigid, non-deformable brace portion, and an elongated adjustment screw extending through the leg sections of said clamp member, means associated with the leg section next adjacent said brace portion providing for threaded engagement with the threaded shank of said screw, said screw being manipulable to draw said last named leg section toward the head portion of said screw whereby to swing the abutment portion of said clamp member from a position extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the shank portion of the screw to a position extending substantially at right angles thereto, and substantially simultaneously to swing said brace portion of the clamp member from a position extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the screw shank into an angular bracing position be- .veen said abutment portion and said screw shank and at an acute angle to said abutment portion.

2. An attachment device for securing a wall fixture, inset into an opening in a wall panel, to the adjacent edge of the wall panel which includes, a fixture engaging member having a fixture engaging portion and a lateral extending wing portion, a deformable clamp member having a relatively straight body section deformable when in fixture attaching position, and a leg section extending in the same direction from each end of the body section, said deformable body section having a panel abutment portion bendably hinged to a relatively rigid and nondeformable brace portion, and an elongated adjustment screw having the head portion thereof designed to seat against said lateral extended wing portion and a shank portion extending through the leg sections of said clamp member, said screw being operative to draw the leg section adjacent the tip end of the screw shank towards the head portion of the screw whereby to swing the panel abutting portion of the clamping clamp member into pressing engagement against the rear face of the panel and to swing the bracing portion ofthe clamp member into inclined bracing position between the panel abutment portion of the clamp member and the screw shank and at an acute angle to said abutment portion.

3. A device for securing an inset wall fixture to a wall panel which includes, a fixture engaging member having a hook portion designed to engage the edge of the fixture and a wing portion extending laterally therefrom, a deformable clamp member having a relatively straight body section deformable when in fixture attaching position, and a leg section extending laterally from each end of the body section, and an elongated adjustment screw having the head portion thereof designed to seat against said lateral extending wing portion and a shank portion designed to extend through aligned holes in the leg sections of said clamp member, and threaded means associated with that leg section which is most remote fromv the head portion of the screw having threaded engagement with the threaded shank portion of said screw.

4. A device for securing an inset wall fixture to the adjacent edg of a wall panel which includes, a fixture engaging member having a hook portion designed-to engage the fixture and a wing portion extending laterally from said hook portion, a deformable metal clamp member having a relatively straight body section deformable when in fixture attaching position, and a leg section extending laterally from each end of the body section, and an elongated adjustment screw having the head portion thereof designed to seat against said lateral extending wing portion and the shank portion designed to extend through aligned holes in the leg sections of said clamp member, threaded means associated with that leg section which is most remote from the head portion of the screw, said screw being operative to draw said threaded leg portion towards the head portion of the screw whereby to draw the body section of said clamp member into pressing engagement against the rear face of the panel, the leg portion nearest to the head of the screw being provided with lateral flanges whereby rotation of the clamp member during deformation thereof is inhibited.

5. An attachment device for securing a wall fixture to a wall panel which includes, a deformable metal clamp member having a relatively straight body section deformable when in fixture attaching position, and a. leg section extending laterally from each end of the body section, aligned holes extending through said leg sections, threaded means designed to receive an adjusting screw associated with one of said leg sections, said deformable body section having a panel abutment portion bendably hinged to a brace portion, said body section being bendable from relatively straight to angular form when said adjusting screw is manipulated, a fixture engaging portion, said fixture engaging portion having a slot therein whereby the said clamp member may be adjustably secured to a wall fixture.

6. An attachment device for securing a wall fixture, inset into an opening in a wall panel, to the adjacent edge of the wall panel which includes, a fixture engaging member having a fixture engaging portion and a lateral extending wing portion, the said laterally extending wing portion being designed to overlie the front face of the panel, a deformable metal clamp member having a relatively straight body section deformable when in fixture attaching position, and a leg section extending from each end of the body section, said deformable body section having a deformable panel abutment portion bendably hinged to a brace portion, and an elongated adjustment screw having the head portion thereof designed to seat against said laterally extended wing portion and a shank portion extending through the leg sections of said clamp member, said screw being operative to draw the leg section adjacent the tip end of the screw shank towards the head portion of the screw whereby to swing the panel abutting portion of the clamping clamp member into pressing engagement against the rear face of the panel and to swing the bracing portion of the clamp member into inclined bracing position between the panel abutment portion of the clamp member and the screw shank.

AUGUST A. LEIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 

